English For Today chapter 13: Our Pride

Lesson 13: Our Pride

After completing the lesson students will able to

• read and understand texts
• ask and answer questions
• write short paragraphs
• participate in short dialogues and conversations on familiar topics

A. Read the following passage:

December 16 is a remarkable day for Bangladeshi people. On this day in 1971, Bangladesh got independence after a nine-month-long blood-soaked battle against the Pakistani army. It is a day of national pride as well as a day of commemorating the sacrifices of the millions of Bangladeshi people. Pakistani army killed three million people and assaulted thousands of women.

The Victory Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country.

Figure

Description: A monument of several tall, pointed, tiered concrete spires rising upward, with a flag on a tall pole at the right. It stands on a low, wide paved platform, with trees in the background.

The day begins with a 31-gun salute at dawn, followed by the hoisting of the national flag at government buildings and private institutions. Different political, cultural and educational programmes are organised to pay homage to the martyrs of the war. The entire nation celebrates the day with colourful flags, banners and parades.

The National Parade ground hosts a grand military parade where the president, the prime minister and dignitaries from government and non-government sectors join. The National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar, our

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monument dedicated to the soldiers and civilians who lost their lives during the war, becomes a focal point for citizens to pay their respect. People from all walks of life gather to offer flowers, recite patriotic songs, and recall the sacrifices made by the nation's heroes.

A1. Write the meanings of the following words:

Homage, Martyrs, Dedicate, Patriotic, Sacrifice, Commemorate

A2. Answer the following questions:

a. What is the significance of our Victory Day? b. Why do we pay homage to our martyrs? c. What is the name of the monument situated at Savar? d. How many people have sacrificed their lives for our country's liberation?

A3. Make a list of the patriotic songs that encouraged our people during the Liberation War of Bangladesh.

B. Listen to the dialogue from a CD or as your teacher reads it out and fill in the gaps.

Figure

Description: Several tall, slanted pillars stand on a curved paved platform. Two people stand at the lower left, facing the structure, and trees are visible in the background.

Teacher: Well students, how do we celebrate our national days? Shanta: We go to the ……. on ……… . We go to the Jatiya Smritisaudha at ………. on ………… and …………….

Teacher: Great! But do you know the English of Jatiya Smriti Saudha? Shanta: Yes, sir/ma'am. It's ………… Mausoleum. Teacher: Very good. Have you ever been to our National ……………..? Shanta: Oh yes, I went there last year on the ……………. ….…., on 16 December.

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Teacher: What did you do there? Shanta: Well, I went there with my ……….. and my brother. Many people were there! Everybody went there to pay ………. to the Liberation War martyrs. We were in a long queue. We had flowers with us. We ………. wreaths of flowers before the mausoleum. My parents took me to the mass graveyards. They told us about the sacrifice of our people for our ………………... I was very ………. to see the mass graves. I prayed for the souls of the martyrs.

Teacher: Yes, we should never forget their ………….. . What else did you see there, Shanta?

Shanta: I saw all kinds of people there- old and young, men, women, and children, politicians, workers, teachers, diplomats, …………….. . All came to pay …………. to the freedom fighters. I saw some ……………. ……………..

Teacher: Really? Were you excited? Shanta: Oh, yes! I shook hands with them and gave them some flowers.

Teacher: You must have felt very ……………... We all should love and respect them. They are our source of inspirations.

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C. Read the words in Column A. They are used in the text above. Match them with their meanings in the Column B.

D. Work in pairs and take an interview of your partner. Use these cues.

i) Do you have any experience of a great day? ……………………………………...…………………………. ii) What was it for? ……………………………………...…………………………. iii) Where did you go? ……………………………………...…………………………. iv) Who accompanied you? ……………………………………...…………………………. iv) What did you do? ……………………………………...…………………………. v) Why was it great/special to you? ……………………………………...………………………….

E. Use the cues in Section D and write a small paragraph on how your partner celebrated a national day.

F. Write your own experience about the day. Mention what day you celebrated; what exactly you, your teachers, and your friends did; and what your feelings were on that day.